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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

Razer Kraken V3 X Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed Apr 13, 2021 at 10:59 am
Latest change: Writing modified Dec 09, 2021 at 04:56 pm
Razer Kraken V3 X Picture
5.9
Neutral Sound
4.4
Commute/Travel
5.4
Sports/Fitness
5.5
Office
4.8
Wireless Gaming
6.7
Wired Gaming
6.6
Phone Calls

The Razer Kraken V3 X are entry-level wired gaming headphones. They have a similarly simple design to the Razer Kraken X but now feature customizable RGB lighting on the ear cups and a USB-A connector rather than a standard 1/8" TRRS connector. They don't offer many extra features other than their design and surround sound support. Although they're compatible with Razer Synapse software, you won't be able to tweak their very warm and dark sound profile as it doesn't offer any EQ settings. On the upside, their flexible boom microphone does an excellent job of recording your voice, and it can separate speech from moderate ambient noise decently well.

Our Verdict

5.9 Neutral Sound

The Razer Kraken V3 X are inadequate for neutral sound. They have a very warm and dark sound profile, and even though they're compatible with Razer Synapse software, they lack an EQ or presets to help tweak their audio reproduction. Also, they're very prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery, which can vary depending on the headphones' fit, seal, and positioning.

Pros
  • Decently comfortable.
Cons
  • No EQ or presets.
  • Very prone to inconsistent audio delivery.
  • No music or call controls.
4.4 Commute/Travel

The Razer Kraken V3 X are poor for commute and travel since they're not built for this purpose. They're decently comfortable but have a USB-A connector, so you won't be able to use them with your smartphone if you don't have an adapter. They also don't block out much rumble from bus or plane engines and have a bulky design, which can make it difficult to take them with you on the go.

Pros
  • Decently comfortable.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation.
  • No music or call controls.
5.4 Sports/Fitness

The Razer Kraken V3 X are disappointing for sports and fitness. They're not suitable for this purpose as they're bulky and don't have a very breathable design. They also lack an IP rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test this, and they only use a USB-A connector, so you won't be able to use it with a smartphone unless you have an adapter.

Pros
  • Stable fit.
  • Decently comfortable.
Cons
  • Very prone to inconsistent audio delivery.
  • Mediocre breathability.
  • No music or call controls.
5.5 Office

The Razer Kraken V3 X are poor for office use. Although they're decently comfortable, and others around you shouldn't hear their audio leakage in a moderately noisy environment, they struggle to block out ambient chatter. They also use a USB-A audio cable, which shouldn't be too much of an issue if you're using them on your PC, but you won't be able to connect them to your smartphone unless you use an adapter.

Pros
  • Decently comfortable.
Cons
  • Very prone to inconsistent audio delivery.
  • Poor noise isolation.
4.8 Wireless Gaming

The Razer Kraken V3 X are wired gaming headphones and can't be used wirelessly.

6.7 Wired Gaming

The Razer Kraken V3 X are alright for wired gaming. They're decently comfortable, lightweight, and have customizable RGB lighting on their ear cups, which some users may like. They also use a USB-A connector, which ensures low latency on PC, PS4, and PS5 consoles. Their flexible boom mic does an excellent job of recording your voice, even in moderately noisy environments, and they're compatible with Razer Synapse software, which allows you to access their surround sound feature. However, the software doesn't offer a lot of extra features, like an EQ.

Pros
  • Boom mic delivers great overall performance.
  • Decently comfortable.
Cons
  • No EQ or presets.
  • Very prone to inconsistent audio delivery.
6.6 Phone Calls

The Razer Kraken V3 X are okay for phone calls. They have a flexible boom mic that does an excellent job of recording your voice so that your voice sounds clear, natural, and full-bodied. It can also separate your voice from moderate ambient noise around you, although the noise is still present as you speak. Unfortunately, the headphones don't block out a lot of noise, which can make it harder to hear the person on the other end of the line.

Pros
  • Boom mic delivers great overall performance.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation.
  • 5.9 Neutral Sound
  • 4.4 Commute/Travel
  • 5.4 Sports/Fitness
  • 5.5 Office
  • 4.8 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.7 Wired Gaming
  • 6.6 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Nov 19, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  2. Updated Apr 21, 2021: We retested and updated the companion software's macOS compatibility.
  3. Updated Apr 13, 2021: Review published.
  4. Updated Apr 09, 2021: Early access published.
  5. Updated Apr 05, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated Apr 01, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  7. Updated Mar 28, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Razer Kraken V3 X come in one color variation: 'Black' and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussion section below and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Razer Kraken V3 X are entry-level wired gaming headphones that use a USB-A connector, which make them fully compatible with PC, PS4, and PS5 consoles. Unlike the Razer Kraken USB Razer Kraken X, these headphones also have customizable RGB lighting. However, they have a very warm sound profile, and their companion software lacks sound customization features like an EQ or presets, unlike some other simply-designed gaming headphones, like the Logitech G432.

Check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets under $100, the best PS4 gaming headsets, and the best gaming headsets.

Razer BlackShark V2 X

The Razer BlackShark V2 X are somewhat better gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken V3 X. The BlackShark V2 X are more comfortable and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. Their boom mic also offers better overall performance, and they have a 1/8" TRRS cable, so you can use them on Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles. However, the V3 X have customizable RGB lighting.

Logitech G432

The Logitech G432 are better wired gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken V3 X. The Logitech are more comfortable and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have a graphic EQ and presets available in their companion app, and come with a couple of different audio cables, so you're able to connect via analog or wired USB to PC, PS4, and PS5 with full compatibility. Their boom mic has better noise handling too. You can also use them with Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles with full compatibility via an analog connection. However, the Razer's boom mic has a better recording quality.

Razer Kraken X

The Razer Kraken V3 X are very similar headphones to the Razer Kraken X. Both headphones have the same alright build quality, although the V3 X are somewhat lighter. However, the X have a better-performing boom mic and use a 1/8" TRRS cable, so you're able to connect them to PCs, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X consoles via analog. However, the V3 X use a USB-A connector, so they're only compatible with PCs, and PS4 and PS5 consoles.

Razer Kraken V3

The Razer Kraken V3 are better than the Razer Kraken V3 X. While both headsets are decently comfortable, the V3 are significantly better-built, have a more balanced sound profile out of the box, and have more robust virtual soundstage features. Their boom mic also offers better noise handling, and their companion software offers more customization features like a graphic EQ and presets. Ηowever, the V3 X's boom mic has a better recording quality.

Razer Kraken USB

The Razer Kraken V3 X are slightly better gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken USB. The V3 X are more comfortable, have volume and mic mute controls, are better-built, and have a more balanced and flat mid-range, which some users may prefer. However, the USB have access to a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. Their boom mic also delivers better overall performance.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic

The Razer Kraken V3 X have a similar black finish look as the Razer Kraken X, with metal grilles surrounding the ear cups and a flexible boom mic. However, these headphones have customizable RGB lighting on the ear cups that you can set in their companion software to better match your style. They only come in one color variation: 'Black'.

7.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.57 lbs
Clamping Force
1.1 lbs

The Razer Kraken V3 X have a decently comfortable fit. The ear cups have faux leather covering the exterior with a cloth-like material interior, which feels good against the skin. There's also some leather padding along the middle of the headphones. Unfortunately, they're a bit bulky, which is to be expected from gaming headphones, and the ear cups have a limited range of motion and articulation.

5.6
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls No

The Razer Kraken V3 X have sub-par controls, which is to be expected from entry-level gaming headphones. They only have a mic-mute button, which feels clicky, and a volume wheel on the left ear cup. These two controls are easy to use, though, and the mic mute button is indented to let you know when you're muted. However, the volume wheel lacks notches to indicate when you've reached minimum or maximum volume.

6.1
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 6.8 °C

These headphones have okay breathability. They trap in some heat, which could make your ears warm over time. They're not meant for use during sports, so you may sweat more than usual wearing them. However, it shouldn't be too much of a problem if you're wearing them while gaming.

5.3
Design
Portability
L 8.6" (21.8 cm)
W 6.4" (16.3 cm)
H 4.0" (10.2 cm)
Volume 218.80 in³ (3,585.47 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

The Razer Kraken V3 X, like most gaming headphones, aren't very portable. They're bulky, don't fold into a more compact form, and lack a carrying case.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A
6.5
Design
Build Quality

The Razer Kraken V3 X have an okay build quality. They're very similar in build to the Razer Kraken X, as they're mostly made of plastic. They also have faux leather padding on the ear cups and headband as well as an audio cable wrapped in a silicone-like material. However, the padding feels cheap and weak while the audio cable isn't detachable, so you need to replace the headphones if it's damaged. The mic mute button also makes a spring-like noise when pressed, which some users may not like. On the upside, there are markings on the headband so that you can see its height measurements. If you're looking for better-built Razer headphones, try the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense.

7.5
Design
Stability

The Razer Kraken V3 X have good stability. They shouldn't fall off your head if you're gaming, but they can move around with higher-intensity movement. Their audio cable isn't detachable either, so the headphones could get yanked off of your head if it gets caught on something.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
0.33 dB
Treble Amount
-7.8 dB

The Razer Kraken V3 X have a very warm and dark sound profile. They deliver a lot of boom, which can help bring out sound effects in your gameplay. However, they lack a thumpy low-bass. Dialogue in video games also lack detail and articulation, while lead instruments in soundtracks are veiled and lispy. These headphones are very prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery too. Their position, seal, and whether you have glasses or thick hair can all affect your listening experience each time you use them. Unfortunately, they lack an EQ to help tweak their sound to your liking.

5.4
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
1.32 dB

The Razer Kraken V3 X have disappointing frequency response consistency. Both their bass and treble delivery can vary depending on fit, seal, and positioning. If you have thick hair or glasses, you may especially notice a drop in bass, as these elements can break the seal on your head.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.0
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.6 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
31.75 Hz
Low-Bass
-2.3 dB
Mid-Bass
4.31 dB
High-Bass
6.83 dB

The Razer Kraken V3 X have okay bass accuracy. They have an underemphasized low-bass, so your audio lacks thump and rumble. In comparison, the mid and high-bass are both overemphasized, which adds significant punch and boom to your mixes. Some users may find they sound muddy, though. That said, the response here represents the average bass response. Bass delivery can also vary across users, so your experience may vary.

8.8
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.66 dB
Low-Mid
2.26 dB
Mid-Mid
0.24 dB
High-Mid
0.05 dB

The Razer Kraken V3 X have excellent mid accuracy. There's some overemphasis coming from the bass range, which makes your mix a bit cluttered and muddy. However, the rest of the range is very flat and even, resulting in clear and present vocals and lead instruments.

1.0
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
12.27 dB
Low-Treble
-9.47 dB
Mid-Treble
-10.78 dB
High-Treble
-11.98 dB

The treble accuracy of these headphones is bad. It's really underemphasized across the range, so vocals and lead instruments are veiled and lack detail. Sibilants like cymbals are dull and lispy. However, the treble delivery can vary across users, so your experience may vary.

6.1
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.27 dB
Dips
3.36 dB

The peaks and dips performance of the Razer Kraken V3 X is acceptable. There's a peak across most of the bass range, which adds thump, punch, and boom to your mix. A dip in the low to mid-mids thins out vocals and lead instruments, pushing them to the back of the mix, while the following peak in the high-mids and low-treble makes the upper harmonics of these sounds honky and harsh. The very steep dip in the low-treble veils the highest part of those vocals and lead instruments, while the small peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants like cymbals sharp.

5.9
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.33
Weighted Phase Mismatch
60.27
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.93
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.94

The Razer Kraken V3 X have middling stereo imaging performance. Their weight group delay falls beneath the audibility threshold, which ensures a tight bass and transparent treble. The left and right drivers are also well-matched in amplitude and frequency response, which helps accurately place and localize objects like voices, instruments, and sound effects like footsteps in the stereo image. However, the right driver is very mismatched in phase response. This mismatch can cause inaccuracies in the stereo image at certain frequencies. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.

4.1
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
4.51 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
2.38 dB
PRTF Distance
3.88 dB
Openness
5.2
Acoustic Space Excitation
3.3

The Razer Kraken V3 X have a poor passive soundstage, which is common for closed-back gaming headphones. They don't have a very large soundstage, and audio sounds like it's coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed around you. Due to their closed-back design, the soundstage is perceived as unnatural and closed-off.

2.0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
On/Off
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
Yes

These headphones are compatible with a 7.1 virtual surround sound feature via their companion software. However, we don't currently test the performance of this feature, and you need to download the program and register your headphones to use it.

6.2
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
1.122
WHD @ 100
0.370

The Razer Kraken V3 X have a mediocre weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's a large peak in the treble range at both normal and high listening volumes. It can be a bit hard to hear with real-life content, though, and it may not be noticeable to all users.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
Unknown
Power
USB
Connection
USB
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Boom

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.

Isolation
4.2
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-11.29 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
1.18 dB
Mid
-8.09 dB
Treble
-27.7 dB

The Razer Kraken V3 X have poor noise isolation. Like most over-ear gaming headphones, they don't block out any bass-range noise like bus or plane engines. They also struggle to cut down mid-range noise like ambient chatter, or higher-pitched sounds like the hum of an AC unit.

7.1
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
38.96 dB

The Razer Kraken V3 X have a satisfactory leakage performance. They leak audio at a high volume, although it shouldn't be too audible if you're listening to audio in a moderately loud environment.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
Yes
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
8.5
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
146.72 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
1.73 dB
HFE
9,948.49 Hz
Weighted THD
0.096
Gain
22.85 dB

The boom mic has an excellent recording quality. Your voice sounds full-bodied, natural, and clear.

7.2
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
25.53 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
7.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
7.5
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Update 12/09/2021: These headphones have been updated to test bench 1.5. In this update, we made changes to the way we test noise handling. We now use a subjective evaluation of our audio clips. This new method has resulted in different results than what we had reported in our previous test bench. As a result, the scoring of this box has changed, and we have updated our results.

The noise handling performance of the Razer Kraken V3 X's mic is decent. It can separate your voice from moderate ambient noise around you, like if you're at a gaming tournament. However, the background noise is still present as you speak.

Active Features
0
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
No Battery
Continuous Battery Life
N/A
Additional Charges
N/A
Total Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port None
6.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Razer Synapse
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows Yes
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
Yes

Update 04/21/2021: We incorrectly reported that the companion app was compatible with macOS. However, you won't be able to access this app on macOS. We have updated our review to reflect these results.

The Razer Synapse companion software is unremarkable. It's only available on Windows, there's no EQ, so you can't tweak the headphones' sound to your liking, and it lacks mic control features like sidetone. There is a volume control slider, though, and you can customize the brightness, effect, or turn off their RGB lighting. There's also a link so you can access their 7.1 virtual surround feature.

Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
N/A
Android Latency
N/A
0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
8.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
USB Type A
Detachable No
Length 6.70 ft (2.04 m)
Connection
USB
Analog/USB Audio Latency
18 ms

The Razer Kraken V3 X come with a non-detachable USB-A cable. They have extremely low latency, so you can game without an issue.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock